Corn harvesting and husking machine



No Model.) 5 sheets-sheen 1.

' J. A. HILBBRT.

CORN HARVESTING AND HUSKING MACHINE.

No. 385,861. Patented July 10, 1888.

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ATTORNEYS.

- INVBNTOR: j. ww BY Vall/ww IIIIIIIIIIIII o o WITNESSES: @7a/o. j 4% 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. A. HILBERT.

CORN HARVESTING AND HUSKING MACHINE.

Patented July 10, 1888.

IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS.

N. FUCHS, Pnmmhngnpher. wnhingmn, D. c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. A. HILBERT.

CORN HARVESTING AND HUSKING MAGHINE. No. 385,861. Patented July 10, 1888.

\ N NVENTOR;

ww f Tijl/13% ATTORNEYS.

N. PE1 Ens, Plwm-Lixhngnphar. wammgmn. D C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J.A. HILBBRT.

GORN HARVBSTING AND HUSKING MACHINE. No. 385,861. Patented July 10 1888.

WITNESSES: INVBNTOR JM B ATTORNEYS.

N. PKTERS, Phmolnhognpner. wamingwn. D. C,

(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 5.

J. A. HILBERT.

CORN HARVESTING AND HUSKING MACHINE.

No. 385,861. Patented July 10, 1888.

IIIL Q Q Y INVENTORI l ATTORNEYS.

ihvirnn rATEs JOHN ALOYSIUS HILBERT, OF CARROLL, IOWA.

CORN HARVESTING AND HUSKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,861, dated July 10, 1888.

Application filed June 30, 1887.

To @ZZ wwm it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN ALoYsrUs HIL- BERT, of Carroll, in the county of Carroll and State of lowa, have invented a new and ImprovedCornHarvcstingand HuskingMachine,

of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the corn harvesting and 1o husking machine for which United States Letters Patent No. 351,916, dated November 2, 1886, were granted to me.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved machine for cutting corn` I5 stalks, separating the cars from the stalks, husking the cars, delivering the husked ears to a wagon traveling with the machine, and placing the stalks in a row or in a pile on the ground.

Theinvention consists in the construction and arrangement of various parts and details and combinations of the same, as will he fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan View of my improvement, the reel being removed and the reel-standard in section. Fig. 2 is afront elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional front elevation of the elevator and the ear cutting and husking devices. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the ear-cutting device. Fig. 6 is au enlarged sectional plan view of the ear-husking device, and Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of both the ear cutting and husking devices on the line 4o yy of Figs. and 6.

My improved machine is provided with the main horizontal frame A, of suitable size and construction, and supported at one side by a wheel, B, and at its other side by the main driving -whcel D, secured to the shaft C, mounted in suitable bearings on said frame A. On the shaft C is also secured the gear-wheel E, meshing into a pinion, E, adapted to turn with and slide laterally on a shaft, F, mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame A. Against the pinion E presses a spring, E2, coiled on said shaft F, and serving to hold said pinion E in mesh with the gear-wheel E. Against the inner face of said pinion Eis held one end of a lever, E3, fulcrumed on the main frame A and serving to move the pinion E laterally on the shaft F, so as to disengagc the pinion from the gear-wheel E whenever desired. Suitable means are employed to lock said lever E in position after disengaging the pinion E from the gear-wheel E. The spring E2 is compressed by the inward movement of the pinion E', and as soon as the lever E is unlocked the spring E2 slides the pinion E' into mesh with the gear-wheel E again.

On the shaft F is secured the bevel gearwheel F, meshing with the bevel-pinion F2, secured at one end of the shaft F3, mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame A and cX- tending longitudinally thereof. On the front end of the shaft F3 is secured a crank-disk, G, which also serves as a sprocket-wheel, and is provided with a crank-pin, G', With which is pivotally connected the pitnlau G2, connected with the sickle-bar H of the cutting mechanism H.

The sickle-bar H reciprocates on .the front beam ofthe main frame A and is held between the guide-arms H2, secu-red to said front beam of the main frame A and the brackets H3, which support said sieklebar H, and are also fastened to the front beam. The guide-arms H2 diverge from each other toward the front and are provided in their outer ends with notches. To the right and left of said guidearms Hl are the guide-arms A', formed on the front ends of the longitudinal beams of the frame A. The outer ends of the guidearms A are pointed and provided with notches similar to those in the guide-arms H2.

The purpose of the guide-arms A and H2 is, when the forward end of the frame is inclined downward, to pass under and raise leaning and fallen stalks, and the notches in the arms H2 will prevent the stalks from slipping therefrom after they have been severed by the cutting mechanism and when ready to be acted upon by the reel, as will presently be described.

rlhe cutting device Hserves to cut the stalks near thc ground, and a reel, I, journaled above said cutting device, serves t-o guide and push the stalks to the cutting device H. Said reel I is provided with the angular arms or spokes I OV.)

I', to each of which is secured, near its-outer end, a finger or prong, I2, attached at right angles to its respective spoke or arm I. The spokes or arms I are fastened to a common hub secured to a shaft, 13, mounted in a bracket, 14, which is vertically adjustable on a forwardly-inclined standard, l5, secured to and projecting in front of the main frame A, so that the reel I can be raised and lowered, and at the same time adjusted forwardly or rearwardly, according to the height of the corn to be harvested. The reel I and its shaft 15 are rotated from the main driving-shaft C by a chain, 17, passing over a sprocket-wheel, l, secured to said shaft I3, and said chain l7 also passes over guide-pulleys 1B and over a sprocket-wheel, l5, secured to said main driv- 5 ing-shaft C. The standing stalks will, when severed, be pushed by the reel-arms rearward upon the transverse supportingrods J, which incline downward from their outer rearwardlyinclined supporting-bracket, J', secured to the main frame to points in rear of the inner guide-arm, H2, then upward under the lower end of the elevator and down toward the beam A2. The fallen or inclined stalks when sev- Iered will rest on the notched arms, and the bunches gathered thereby will also be carried rearward upon the supports J by said angular reel-arms, which pass through the spaces between the arms H2 and A' in front of the machine.

A few of the bars J extend upward from the beam A2 in linewith the carri'er K, and the bars J 5, extending downward from the front of the main frame and toward the rear over the carrier K, prevent the stalks, when pushed toward the rear by the reel I, from becoming entangled on top of the carrier K. Between the upper ends of the extended stalk-supporting rods J are placed the rods J3, which also extend upward in line with the carrier K and permitthe ears, after `leaving the rods J, to drop in between said rods J5, so as to hang downward.

The stalk-supporting rods J3 are attached at their lower ends to the inner longitudinal bar of frame A, and their upper ends terminate just above the points of plates P4.

The carrier K is provided with endless belts or chains K', carrying the slats K2, placed at suitable intervals and each provided with a number of outwardly-projecting prongs or fingers, K3. The endless belts or chains K' pass over the pulleys K5, yof which the smaller ones are mounted in the lower ends of the inclined beams A3, and the upper larger pulleys, K", are mounted near the upper ends of the said beams A3. l The latter are supported 'at their upper ends by a longitudinally-extending beam, A, secured to the outer ends of the inclined beams A5, mounted on top of the main frame A, the said beams A5 being braced and strengthened by the beams A, also secured to the top of the main frarneA, but extending in an inclined position toward the beams A5. The lower ends of the beams A5, supporting the stalk-carrier K, aresupported by the standard A5, erected on top of the main frame A.

The upper larger pulleys, K4, of the stalkcarrier K are secured to a shaft, K5, which has its bearings on the beams A3, and is provided at its front end with a sprocketwheel, K5, which is set in motion by a chain, L, passing over the idler L', mounted on a stud secured to the beam A5, and said chain L also passes over the sprocket-wheel O, secured to a shaft, O', for operating the ear-cutting'device, and said chain L also passes under a sprocket-wheel, N, secured to a shaft,-N', and serving to operate the feeding device for delivering the corn to the ear cutting and husking devices, and said chain L also passes over the sprocket-wheel G, which imparts motion to said chain when the machine is .moved forward, thus at the same time imparting motion to the ear cutting and husking devices, the feeding device,-and thestalk-carrier above mentioned.

The shaft N', which is set in motion by the chain L, as above described, is provided with the sprocket-wheels N2, over which pass chains N5, carrying the cross-bars N, placed suitable distances apart, and each being provided with outwardlyextending fingers or prongs N5, placed suitable distances apart on said crossbars N4. The chains N5 also pass over the guide-pulleys N5, mounted in suitable bearings secured to the beam A, and said chains N3 also pass over the guide-pulleys N 7, mounted in adj ustably-attached bearings on the under side of the beam K7.

The shaft O', which is set in motion by the chain L, above described, is provided with a number of bevel gear-wheels, O2, each meshing in a bevel gear-wheel, O3, secured to the upper end of apvertical shaft, Ot, mounted in suitable bearings, O5, secured to the longitudinally-extending beam A7. Each shaft O,and its mechanism for rotating it, is connected with and is part of an ear-cutting device, P, which consists principally of thetoothed stem and husk severing wheelv or disk P', mounted on the lower end of said shaft O", which rotates in ahorizontal plane between the toothed and curved fixed edges of the plates P2, let into the sidesot the bracket P5, fastened to the unv der side of the cross-beam A7.

The inner or vlast tooth of each plate P2 is bent downward and extends under the bottom of the toothed wheel P', while the other teeth of the plate Pz are in a horizontal plane with the teeth of the stem and husk severing wheel P'. On top ofthe bracket P5, and in front of the toothed plate P2, is placed the guide-plate P, which extends downward at its front end in line with the lower part of the chain K' of the stalk-carrier K., On top ot' this downwardly-bent end is placed a guard, P5, which extends upwardin line with said chain K', its other end reaching to within a short distance of the upper ends of the bars K7, held directly below the beams A, and being placed parallel with the same. f

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The outer end of the bracket Pn is bent downward and supports the corn-husking device Q, which consists, principally, of two sets of spring-plates, Q', of which each set is united to the downwardly-extending frontend ofthe bracket P3 in such a manner as to form a sharp corner, and then the spring-plates Q' extend toward the rear, diverging from each other. Each plate of each set is provided at its inner end with an inwardly-curved extension hav ing at its end a sharp prong or hook, Q2, for retaining the corn-husk after the ear has been treated by the cutting or breaking mechanism P, located above.

Directly below the ear cutting and husking devices P and Q, respectively, is located a chute, R, which leads downward to one end of the elevator S, which is similar in construction to the one shown in my former patent above referred to. The upper end ot' the elevator S is provided with the driving-pulley S', over which passes the crossed belt T, also passing over a pulley, T', secured to the shaft T, mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame A and carrying on its inner end a bevelpinion, T3, meshing into the bevel gear-wheel F', secured to the auxiliary shaft F, deriving its motion, by means of the gear-wheels E and E', from the main drivingshaft C.

At the rear end of the cross-beam A7 is mounted a drivers seat, U, and ou the front beam of the main frame A is pi voted the tongue V, extending-toward the rear beyond its pivot, and being secured at its rear end by means of a pin to a forked bar, V', extending downward from the main frame A. The forked bar V' is provided with a series of vertical apertures through which said pin passes, so as to adjust the tongue V to any desired height.

The operation is as follows: As the machine is drawn along a row of corn, the sickle cuts the stalks, and the reel I, by means ofits inclined arms I', pushes the stalks back crosswise upon the inclined stalk-supporting rods J, down which they slide to the lowest point of said supporting-rods, which is at the lower ends of the inclined side beams, Ai. In corn, where part of it is broken down, itis necessary to have a reel that can be adjusted very near to theground, so as to catch the down stalks77 as they are raised by the arms HL A', and yet not hook under the ears of the standing stalks. My reel is therefore journaled on the inclined standard in front of the main frame, so that by moving the bracket the reel is adjusted in two directions, as before explained, to bring` the outer angular arms of the reel to span the arms Hl without interfering with the cutting mechanism, and the inclined arms l' will not allow crooked or snarled stalks or hanging ears to catch on and hang to the reel. The ears on the stalks hang down between the su pportingrods, and in case some of the ears remain on said supports J they drop down after leaving said supports when passing upon thc supports J3, as before described. Vhen the stalks arrive at the lower ends of said supports J, they are caught by the projecting pins or prongs K" and areconveycd upward over the inner ends of the extending supports J and upon the supports J, their outer ends resting on said beams K7, held directly below the beams A3, supporting the stalk-carrier K. Before the stalks reach the husking and cutting devices Pand Q all the ears hang downward from the under sides of their stalks sufficiently to be caught under the top fianges of the fixed plates P", being pushed between said plates P* by the fingers or prongs N5, secured to the crossbeams N, traveling with the chains N3. Said fingers N5 pass between the sets of earguiding plates Pf, and thus push the ears upon the bottom sides of the plates after the ears leave the inclined lower parts of said plates P. The stalks are drawn upward over the inclined fingers P5 by the projecting teeth or prongs K3, and are finally delivered upon an incline, upon which said stalks are placed in bunches, and are removed to the ground or to a wagon al'ter a sufficient number have accumulated. The inclined points of the plates P'l guide the ear between the lower springarms without pulling on the ear before it is led under the side flanges of said plates P". As the stalk is moved up on the inclined prongs P5, the ear is drawn between the lower spring-arms Q' and the plates P", With its buttend against the under side of the plates P. Then the ear is Separated from the stalk. Should the stem connecting the ear and the stalk be short or the strain so great as to break the stem before the-ear reaches the toothed stem and husk severing wheel or disk P', that will not interfere with the successful husking of said ear, as the spring-arms Q' hold the ear in place until it is pushed to the cutting Wheel or disk P' by the cross-bar N" and its lingers or prongs Ni. The lower spring-arms Q are attached in such a manner that an ear can easily slide upward between them; but the projecting upper edges of the spring arms prevent them from slipping downward. The chains N3 run about twice as fast as the carrierchains K', so that each cross-bar N5 is directly behind the ear as it reaches the inclined ends of the plates P, and then overtakes it and brings it up square to the cutting-wheel P'. The two sets of chains N3 and K' are also timed so that each cross-bar N4 will always follow a crossbar, K, and the two corresponding crossbars N" and K2 will be in perpendicular line with each other at about the forward edge of the toothed. wheel P'. The prongs Nv5 of the crossbars N come up to the points of the earguiding plates PL after the ear is partly drawn between the lower springarms Q', and then follow the ear and force it through between the lower spring arms Q', the projecting points Ql of which t lar the husk open and off from the side of the ear, while the revolving toothed stem and husk severing wheel P' and the stationary toothed plate P2, which are a little below the flanges of the plates P, break the stem and husk from the ear, wh ich is now placed itC ITO

in the chute R and guided to the trough of the elevator S, to which it is conveyed in the usual manner by an endless belt provided with blocks, so as to prevent the ears from shooting back, and the ears are finally dis charged into a wagon drawn at the side of the machine. The toothed wheels or disks P do not of themselves cut the husks from the ear, but sever the husk and stem from the ear by their-teeth entering the husk at one side of the ear and the teeth of the plates P'l entering the husks on the opposite side at the butt of the ear, the two thereby breaking or splitting the husk and stem from the ear. Another object in making the plates Pl toothed is to make them take a firm hold on the husk by piercing the same, so that the ears when striking the teeth will not slip backward or downward and so escape being acted upon by the tooth-wheels, which engage the opposite part and impart a rolling motion to the ear as it is carried rearward.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. ln a corn-harvester, the combination, with the frame, the cutting mechanism at the front thereof, and the guide-arms at opposite ends of the cutter, of the vertical reel journaled at the front of the frame and having spokes or arms provided toward their outer ends with prongs or fingers forming, in connection with the ends of the spokes, anglearms extending below and passing at opposite sides of the guide-arms and so as to remove the stalks therefrom, substantially as set forth.

2. In a corn-harvester, the combination. with the frame, the cntting'mechanism, and the guide-bars at the front thereof, of the forwardly-inclined standard I5, secured at its lower end to the front of the main frame, the

vertically-adj ustable bracket I4 on said stand-AA ard, the vertically-revolving reel journaled in said bracket and having inclined spokes or arms 1', and the fingers or prongs I2,secnred to said spokes at right angles thereto, fingers or arms, and the ends of the spokes or arms extending below and outside of the said guides, substantially as set forth.

3. In a corn harvesting and husking mechanism, the combination, with the endless stalkcarrier K, of the toothed stem and husk severing Wheel or disk under the same, a stationary plate adjacent'to said wheel, a space for the ear being forced between the plate and wheel, and the endless chain having ngers for forcing the ears to the wheel and stationary plate and revolving at a greater speed than the stalk-carrier, substantially as set forth.

4. In a corn harvesting and husking machine, the combination, with a toothed wheel and astationary toothed plate, of guideplatcs leading to said toothed wheel, and endless chains carrying cross arms provided with lingers passing between said plates, so as to force the ears along said plates to said toothed wheel and its toothed plate, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a corn harvesting and husking machine, the combination, with the carrier K, provided with the crossbars K2, having fingers K,of the beams K, extending in line with said carrier K and supporting the stalks conveyed upward by said carrier, the plates P, each provided with an inclined end extending in line with said carrier, and the endless chains N3, provided with cross beams N4, having prongs or lingers N5. for pushing the ears between said plates P4, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a corn harvesting and husking machine, the endless chain K', the cross-bars K2, held on said endless chains K', the fingers or prongs K3, extending outward from said bars K2, and the guide-rods J3 and the beams K7, both extending in line with the chain K', in combination with the plates. P4, extending horizontally and each having a downwardlyinclined receiving end extending in line with said chain, the inwardly-extending prongsI, secured to said plates P4, for supporting the stalks while the ears are being removed, the endless chains N3, the cross-beams N 4, secured to said chains N3, and the prongs or fingers N5, for pushing the ears between said plates P* and along the same, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination, with the brackets, the plates P4 on the upper sides thereof, a parallel plate, P2, secured to each bracket at one side thereof, and the rotary stem and husk severer at the rear end of said plates, of the sets of diverging spring-plates Q' under each plate P2, their free ends lying adjacent to the rotary severer, substantially as set forth.

8. In a corn harvesting and husking machine, the combination, with the guide-plates and the horizontal toothed plate P2, of the horizontally-rotating toothed wheel P', between which and the said plate the stems and adhering husks are acted upon, substantially as set forth. y

9. In a corn harvesting and husking machine, the stem and husk severing toothed wheel P' and the stationary toothed plate P2, extending in line with the teeth of said wheel P and having a downwardly-extending tooth reaching under said Wheel P', and the spring- IOC plates Q', each having on its outer end a hook,

Q2, for holding the husk while the latter and the stems are being severed from the ear by said wheel and said toothed plate P2, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a corn harvesting and husking machine, the co1nbination,with the reel I, having the inclined arms or spokes I', each provided with a prong, I2, of the guide-arms H2, diverging at their outer ends, having notches at their front ends, and the guide-arms A', extending from the main frame of the machine,

and also provided with notches at their front ends, so as to prevent the stalks from sliding off after being` cut, substantially as shown and described.

Il. In a eorn-harvesting and husking machine, the eombination,with the reel I and the 5 guide-arms A and H2, each provided with notches near its pointed front end, of the in olined supportingrods J, upon which thestalks are forced by said reel I, the guide-rods J2, and the carrier Ii, for conveying the stalks upro ward at the under side of said carrier, said stalls being` prevented from falling upon the carrier by said rods J2, substantially as shown and described.

l2. In a corn harvester and husker7 the 15 combination,with the frame, the stalk-cutting mechanism at the front thereof, the reel journaled above `the cutter, the transverse supporting-rods J, inclined inward and downward from the side of the frame to a point in rear ofthe cutter and then upward and downzo ward to the frame, and the supporting-rods J3, extending` upward beyond the lower ends of rods J and at about the same inclination, of the inclined stalk-carrier K over said bars J J3, and extending at itslower ends to the bends 25 in the former, substantially as set forth.

JOI-IN ALOYSIUS HILBERT. Vitnesses:

JOSEPH KETTENMAIER, M. J. HEIREs. 

